Barefoot California Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Price: $6.99
SoG Score: 85
User Score: --
Region: Napa Valley, California

For those that know me, the stinky foot on the label is enough to keep me far far away from this wine, but the 5 gold medals for a $6.99 wine were just too tempting. It's not bad for a cheap bottle of cab that is available everywhere- you can pick it up off any supermarket shelf (well except in Minnesota where supermarkets don't sell wine). Very fruity and jammy, complementing well with a juicy savory steak or meaty red sauce pasta. Its strong cherry aroma also makes it especially good with dark chocolate. A little too sweet for a Cabernet for my taste. Worth a try for the price but not sure if it deserves quite as many gold medals as it has won.

the ideal meal: sprinkle sea salt and fresh pepper on a marbled steak and grill to medium rare perfection, enjoy with sips of barefoot cab.

Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois 2006

Price: $10.99
SoG Score: 91
User Score: --
Region: Napa Valley, California

Folie à Deux winery blends Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet for a well-balanced ménage à trois of flavors creating a perfect table red. It goes down easy- silky and smooth, without being too bland or uninteresting. This is the perfect wine to have a case lying around to sip on with whatever you whip up for dinner, to serve at a potluck or picnic, or to grab as a hostess gift as there is nothing this wine doesn't go with. We enjoyed it while snacking on almonds, dried raspberries, cranberries, and chocolate- what a beautiful combination!


the ideal meal: a perfect accompaniment to an after dinner cheese plate.

Boony Doon Ca' del Solo Big House Red 2003

Price: $9.99
SoG Score: 87
User Score: --
Region: Central Coast, California

Big House Red is like the perfect pair of jeans (or for me the perfect pleated skirt)- it goes well with anything you pair it with and it's great for almost any occasion. It makes a great everyday table wine and the screw cap is just an added bonus for convenience.
It may not cause fireworks to go off, but it's a solid, dependable wine that never tires and I just might be tempted to buy a case.

the ideal meal: enjoy a glass with a juicy bleu-cheese burger

Rheingau Pinot Noir Edition Maximilian 2005

Price: $5.99
SoG Wine Score: 84
Avg User Wine Score: --
Region: Traben-Trarbach, Germany

From the winemaker: Medium-dry, full bodied Pinot Noir with ruby red color, characterized by well-balanced oak flavors, earthy and delicate tones. A wine which matches grilled beef, pasta dishes, wild poultry and strong cheeses perfectly.

We tried a handful of Pinots after the whole 'Sideways' push, but found this one to be mediocre. The Germans ought to stick to BMWs and such as they can't touch a nice Californian Pinot.

Archeo Nero d'Avola Ruggero di Tasso 2005

Price: $5.99
SoG Wine Score: 89
Avg User Wine Score: --
Region: Sicily: Nero d'Avola grape

From the winemaker: Lots of berry character with soft tannins and a lightly jammy finish. Pair with red sauced dishes and grilled meats. Nero d'Avola is "the most important red wine grape in Sicily."

Overall, we thought this wine to be on par with the high praise.

the ideal meal: we had this bottle with our trademark classic marinara pasta with hot Italian sausage.

Dominio Del Plato Ben Marco Malbec 2005

Price: $17.99
SoG Wine Score: 87
Avg User Wine Score: --
Region: Mendoza, Argentina

The Argentinian sun and crisp mountain air bring out the best in the Malbec grape, creating an earthy complexity with notes of berries and plums and a silky texture. The malbec grape makes a mild medium bodied wine, somewhere between a cab and a merlot. Malbec wines are definitely worth trying and this one offers a great taste and quality at a reasonable price. Makes a great complement to steak, chorizo, and other stronger flavors.

the ideal meal: would be heavenly with a chorizo pie, kind of like an empanada from Porto's bakery in Glendale.